2nd rounders in 2nd year: 2025 outlook for Patriots WR Ja'Lynn Polk
2nd rounders in 2nd year: 2025 outlook for Patriots WR Ja'Lynn Polk
Not every second-round draft pick finds immediate success in the NFL. That plain fact often obscures a player's initial evaluation in our society of instant gratification and immediate validation. Some are drafted with an eye for the future more than heavy usage in the present.
That's the basis for our series focusing on the 2024 second-rounders who didn't get a chance to do a lot as rookies, for a variety of reasons. So far, we've covered:
Cowboys EDGE Marshawn Kneeland
Cardinals CB Max Melton
Chiefs OL Kingsley Suamataia
Lions CB Ennis Rakestraw
Falcons DT Ruke Orhorhoro
Next up is a player with a lot to prove in Year 2: Ja'Lynn Polk. The New England Patriots selected Polk with the No. 37 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after a strong career playing wide receiver at Washington (and Texas Tech prior). The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Polk offered impressive size and exceptional ball tracking skills, performing very well as part of a talented WR ensemble for the Huskies.
The Patriots liked what they saw from Polk in training camp and preseason to give him chances to play extensively early on. He started five of the first six games, primarily operating outside but shifting into the slot for about 20 percent of his snaps. Polk struggled to get off press coverage, and his pedestrian speed didn't work as effectively in the NFL as it did in college.
After getting 26 targets and hauling in just 10 of them for 84 yards in the first seven games, Polk missed Week 8 with a concussion. The Patriots effectively moved on from Polk thereafter; Polk had just two catches on seven targets in the remainder of his rookie season.
Based on how New England approached their offseason, that move away from Polk might persist--at least in 2025. The Patriots added free agent WRs Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, and both are above Polk on the Patriots depth chart. Hollins is a much bigger and more accomplished "big" receiver, while Diggs is a master route runner and dynamic Pro Bowl talent. The Patriots also drafted Washington State speedster Kyle Williams in the third round, adding to a receiver room that still has useful vet Kendrick Bourne and third-year Kayshon Boutte, who finished second on the team in WR targets a year ago.
Polk figures to get chances to impress the new coaching staff headed by Mike Vrabel, but he's got real work to do to stay relevant in the Patriots' plans in 2025. Improving his release off the line and handling physicality would be a good place to start for Polk.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
What's next for the Lions after Frank Ragnow's retirement
After a few months of clarity and consideration, Frank Ragnow — the All-Pro center who anchored one of the league's best offensive lines — is calling it quits. In the end, Ragnow, 29, is prioritizing his long-term health. His seven-year career saw him play through injury after injury in an effort to help a losing franchise become a winner. Advertisement He'll be remembered fondly for it. 'These past couple of months have been very trying as I've come to the realization that my football journey is ending and I'm officially retiring from the NFL,' Ragnow announced on Instagram on Monday. 'I've tried to convince myself that I'm feeling good but I'm not and it's time to prioritize my health and my family's future. I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don't. I have to listen to my body, and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life. It was an absolute honor going to battle for you all.' Ragnow's decision to retire was surprising to many, but not to the Lions. They've been in communication with Ragnow about his future for years, and have tried to prepare for this moment as much as they reasonably could. They've drafted several young interior offensive linemen. They've cross-trained players, and moved quickly to add depth after Ragnow's retirement. Don't think this wasn't on their radar. 'We're not going to pressure him to do anything or make any moves,' Lions general manager Brad Holmes said when asked about Ragnow's future after the 2023 season. 'But the communication will be diligent. It'll be thorough, it'll be respectful.' Ragnow, after years of speculation, is finally ready for the next chapter of life. In turn, the Lions must now navigate life without him. Here's how they can do it. Ragnow will go down as one of the best to wear the Detroit uniform and one of the best centers of his era, earning four Pro Bowl nods and three second-team All-Pro honors in just seven seasons. What he gave the Lions in the run game and in pass protection was special, and his elite preparation and football IQ helped him maximize his talents. He was responsible for alerting potential blitzes to the rest of the offensive line, while acting as a sounding board for his quarterbacks — Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff. He was one of the league's best and brightest and could be left alone on an island because of his rare combination of physical talent and mental preparation. He was a special player. Advertisement Off the field, Ragnow was a beloved and respected figure in the locker room, and a Walter Payton Man of the Year finalist. He helped oversee the transition from Matt Patricia to Dan Campbell and helped the Lions turn things around. Ragnow's contract was extended during this regime's first offseason together, in 2021 — amid a complete roster teardown. That the new guys deemed Ragnow as one of the guys to build around should tell you everything you need to know about him. There is no replacing a player like Ragnow. But the Lions will try. Detroit is positioned as well as a team reasonably could be to overcome his departure. Let's take a look at some of the players who could be asked to handle center responsibilities — either in games or in practice. Graham Glasgow: As things stand, Glasgow feels like the front-runner to replace Ragnow. He's the only player with any meaningful experience at center. Players and coaches applaud him for his knowledge of the game, and at this point it might be his most valuable trait. That would be highlighted more at center than guard, and his ability to play the position was something Campbell himself acknowledged as a strength of Glasgow's back in April. 'Graham's somebody that we still value because he's got versatility,' Campbell said. '…He can also play center. I think people forget that some. Man, he can do an excellent job at center. … So, yeah, we have confidence in him.' Glasgow has been Ragnow's primary backup since his return to the Lions in 2023, and those skills were needed. Glasgow's 2024 season was bumpy, as he allowed the sixth-most pressures among guards in the regular season, and nine more in the playoff loss to the Commanders. Glasgow wasn't fully healthy, but he is getting up there in age and doesn't move as well as he once did. Kicking inside to center could allow him to maximize his football IQ, while providing the Lions with a veteran to help Goff and anchor the offensive line, rather than a rookie. It could also allow the next name on this list to develop at his own pace. Advertisement Tate Ratledge: The only real in-house challenger to Glasgow is Ratledge, a second-round pick out of Georgia. Ratledge primarily played right guard in college and only sparingly played center in practices at Georgia. But he has the goods to handle it, as well as the right mentality. 'Yeah, it's different from guard, of course,' Ratledge said of taking center reps at rookie minicamp, 'But I'm glad I've had prior experience playing center, so it's nothing brand new to me. Coming back out here, getting the feel of it. But as far as center goes, you're taking control of the offensive line, so I kinda like that aspect of it.' Ratledge was a team captain at Georgia, winning two national titles in college. He tested as one of the most athletic interior linemen in the 2025 NFL Draft, with a 9.99 relative athletic score when evaluated at center. His closest athletic comps? Creed Humphrey and Frank Ragnow. Well then — Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) June 4, 2025 In addition to his athleticism playing up at center, Ratledge played through injuries for his teammates, took it personally when his quarterback was touched and is viewed as a cerebral lineman. Sound familiar? If the idea was that the Lions could cross-train Ratledge to get him up to speed quickly enough to play center as a rookie, then Detroit's draft — already strong on paper — looks even better. Now, that's a steep learning curve for a rookie offensive lineman, so the fact that Ratledge has been taking first-team reps in OTAs could be more about the future than the present. But it certainly sounds like he could be the long-term answer. He'll have one of the league's best offensive line coaches — a former NFL center himself, Hank Fraley — showing him the ropes. 'Center is not as natural for him yet, so you definitely tend to give him more reps at that, snapping the ball, making it more comfortable,' Fraley said of Ratledge last month. '… I know the young man, getting to know him more after rookie minicamp and prior to that, he's going to do whatever I ask. …He definitely needs some time (at center), training. It's going to become natural for him. …In time, he's going to get it down and become a pretty good center here.' Advertisement Trystan Colon: On the heels of Ragnow's retirement, it was reported Wednesday that the Lions are signing former Arizona Cardinals G/C Trystan Colon. A UDFA out of Missouri in 2020, Colon has started games for the Ravens and Cardinals in his career, including a career-high seven last season, all coming at right guard. Colon has four career starts at center and that experience makes him an asset on a roster without much besides Glasgow. Colby Sorsdal: A fifth-round pick out of William & Mary in 2023, Sorsdal's future in Detroit has been harder to visualize than other young linemen the team has drafted. They gave him a shot as a rookie, starting three games with mixed results. As a sophomore last season, Sorsdal appeared in just one game and didn't log a single offensive snap — a healthy scratch for much of the season. Sorsdal was a tackle in college and was drafted to play guard, but he was spotted at center during OTAs last week. It could simply be cross-training, or it could help Sorsdal increase his value in a suddenly crowded interior offensive line room. Michael Niese: Niese, in a bit of a surprise move, earned a spot on the 53-man roster out of training camp. When the Lions had a big lead and it was time to empty the bench, Niese replaced Ragnow at times, playing 34 offensive snaps. For Niese to be active most game days and trusted enough to step in speaks to how the Lions feel about him. However, he could be on the outside looking in with some of the new additions to the roster. Kingsley Eguakun: A UDFA out of Florida last year, Eguakun spent the 2024 season developing on Detroit's practice squad. It's an investment that could eventually pay dividends. Eguakun was given a fifth-round grade by The Athletic's Dane Brugler coming out of the 2024 NFL Draft, ranked as the eighth-best pure center prospect. Eguakun is intriguing because the Lions can allow him to grow at his own pace while stashing him on the practice squad. But he has plenty of competition ahead of him. Ragnow's retirement has not been officially announced by the team or filed on the transaction wire, but because it's taking place post-June 1, the Lions have options for how they'd like to handle his cap hit. Ragnow is due a guaranteed option bonus of $3.6 million in both 2025 and 2026, but since he's retiring after June 1, the Lions could split that over two seasons. If the Lions decide to eat those bonuses in 2025, they'd free up $5.6 million in cap space from Ragnow's retirement for the 2025 season, with no cap hit for the 2026 season. Advertisement If the Lions use the post-June 1 retirement to pay out those bonuses over two seasons instead of one, they would free up roughly $9.2 million in 2025 from Ragnow's retirement, while being on the books for a $3.6 million cap hit in 2026. It remains to be seen which direction the Lions ultimately take, but they take a holistic view of the cap over multiple seasons, which is more important than year-to-year figures. In other words, what they do — and don't do — in 2025 affects their plans for 2026, 2027, 2028 and so on. Just because there's more money to use doesn't mean it will be used.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Baltimore Ravens Update Zay Flowers' Injury Recovery
Baltimore Ravens Update Zay Flowers' Injury Recovery originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Baltimore Ravens wideout Zay Flowers sat on the sideline while his team was bounced out of the postseason for the second straight year. The year before it was partly thanks to a late fumble by Flowers, but this time he wasn't on the field due to a knee injury suffered in the Ravens' 35-10 win over the Cleveland Browns. Advertisement He missed all of the postseason last year and continues to rehab. He was able to avoid surgery and is present at the team's OTAs. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken gave an update, saying he's got "no limits" from his injury, and has Monken itching to get him back on the field to utilize him more in the offense in 2025. 'We've just got to get him the ball more,' Monken said, via the team's website. 'He's an unbelievable football player. He's not only an outside receiver who has elite route-running skills, but he's unbelievable with the ball in his hands. So you have a guy who really plays two spots. I'm not sure he can use that in his contract negotiations. But I'm just saying you can use him in a variety of roles to get him the ball, which allows your volume to go up. He's a volume catch guy. "You can use him in novelty screens, getting him the ball down the field. I expect him to take another leap. When you make it to the Pro Bowl, or you're an All-Pro, you're pretty good.' Advertisement In the 2023 postseason, Flowers fumbled away a potential touchdown in the loss to Kansas City. So not participating in the 2024 playoffs was "killing him." "It was killing me, for sure," Flowers said following the 27-25 loss to Buffalo. "I want to be out there every game. I want to go through everything they go through, so not being out there, it took a little toll on me, just to watch that and not be able to participate and do what I wanted to do and help the team." He'll be eligible for a contract extension after the 2025 campaign, and increased usage in the offense could be a useful negotiating tool. Related: 'Remarkably Consistent' Ravens Dubbed Second-Most Complete Team Related: Ravens Star Defender Awkwardly Due For Improved 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
John Harbaugh, Mark Andrews Praise DeAndre Hopkins at OTAs
John Harbaugh, Mark Andrews Praise DeAndre Hopkins at OTAs originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Baltimore Ravens weren't the biggest players in the 2025 offseason. In the middle of a Super Bowl window, the limitations of the cap and meager draft capital ensured they wouldn't show up on lists of the spring's winners. Advertisement With superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson and a strong core supporting him, a championship remains tantalizingly close. The offseason, thus, was meant to reinforce those Super Bowl aspirations by filling minor holes with smaller moves. One such acquisition was receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Coming off the worst year of his career, expectations for the veteran receiver are low. That leaves plenty of room for Hopkins to impress in Baltimore. At organized team activities (OTAs), Ravens head coach John Harbaugh revealed his first impression of Hopkins. "First of all, I think he's a heck of a football player," John Harbaugh said, via the team's website. "Obviously, you saw him today. He's a gifted guy. He's a talented guy. He's going to be a big-body, contested-catch receiver for us, certainly. Advertisement "He's moving great. Plus, he brings all that experience. He's been in big games before. He's made plays in the big games. He knows how to make plays. There's not going to be any situation that's going to be too big for him, but I just thought he and Lamar [Jackson] looked really good today out there together. It was nice to see." Hopkins projects to be a complementary piece of the passing offense, particularly in the red zone. If he can earn Jackson's trust, playing an outsized role remains possible, too. However, Hopkins is entering his age-33 season. He posted just 610 yards across 16 games, 10 of which came with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and didn't leave much of a mark in the playoffs. Hopkins, as the third receiver in an offense with several non-perimeter targets, isn't positioned to bounce back in the box score. But if he can win on third downs and insulate the passing offense, there's room for him to write a successful chapter in Baltimore. Advertisement "[DeAndre Hopkins] looks great," said tight end Mark Andrews. "He looks really, really good. He's been making some big plays, and I think he's going to be great for our offense, just being versatile, having a guy that catches the ball extremely well, runs really fluid routes and knows the game well. And he looks like, when he's out here, he's flying around. He's looked really good." Hopkins' Pro Bowl days are behind him, but if he's healthy, there's a role for him in a successful Ravens offense. Fans will get a chance to confirm their favorite team's first impressions as the summer rolls along. Related: Ravens Announce Update on M&T Bank Stadium Upgrades Related: Ravens Catch Heat for Signing 'Declining' D-Hop This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
